JOSHUA-WILDER COULD TAKE PLACE IN APRIL 2019

Anthony Joshua and Deontay Wilder could meet for a highly anticipated heavyweight showdown at Wembley next April, according to promoter Eddie Hearn.

WBC champion Wilder (40-0) dismissed hopes of the blockbuster bout being made after the WBA ordered Joshua, who also holds the IBF and WBO belts, to face Alexander Povetkin in a mandatory defence.

Hearn claims the WBA grew tired of protracted negotiations over a unification fight, but insists an offer remains on the table and the clash could take place in London next year.

He told Omnisport: "We agreed terms with Deontay Wilder some seven or eight days ago, and we hadn't heard anything back from the contract we sent them, and eventually on Sunday they emailed and said they'd be back to us on Friday, which was bizarre.

"But the WBA had had enough, they'd waited too long for Deontay Wilder and we move on and face Alexander Povetkin, which is equally a dangerous fight, [he is the] number three heavyweight in the world.

"It's been frustrating, it's been three months that I wish we didn't spend wasting our time trying to get that fight [against Wilder]. But the great news for fight fans is that the fight's still there, the contract is still there on the desk, all they've got to do is sign it.

"And they've come out in the media and said there was only two minor points, and we were going to give into those anyway. So if that's the case, great. Fight fans have got what they want, but the good news is we'll find out if Deontay Wilder is real, and I hope everyone puts suitable pressure on him, fans alike, to say, 'If you want this so bad, why don't you just sign?'

"April 13th at Wembley is a date we've got on hold. If we can beat Povetkin and you win your interim fight, it's there, the fight that everybody wants."